The Windows key or Windows logo key (in short WinKey, Start key, or rarely Flag key or Go To Key (Canada)) is a keyboard key originally introduced for the Windows 95 operating system. On keyboards lacking a Windows key, Ctrl+Esc can instead be pressed.
Within the standard Windows Shell, pressing and releasing the Windows key by itself opens the Start Menu (focusing the Quick Search box in Windows Vista and Windows 7).
Pressing the key in combination with other keys allows invoking many common functions through the keyboard. What Windows key combinations ("shortcuts") are available and active in a given Windows session depends on many factors, including accessibility options, the type of the session (regular or Terminal Services), the Windows version, the presence of specific software such as IntelliType, and others.
In Windows Vista, it is also a Hardware Start Button. It sends the same scan code as regular Windows key, but compliant hardware will turn on computer.
Shortcuts
Tapping the Windows key itself opens and closes the Start Menu.
- Windows + B to select the first icon in the Notification Area
- Windows + D to show the desktop
- Windows + E to open Explorer
- Windows + F to open Search
- Windows + Control + F to open Search for Computers (requires Active Directory Domain Services)
- Windows + F1 to open Help
- Windows + L to lock the desktop or switch users
- Windows + M to minimize all windows
- Windows + Shift + M to restore windows that were minimized with Windows + M
- Windows + R to open the Run dialog
- Windows + U to open Utility Manager(Ease of Access)
- Windows + Pause to open System Properties
- Windows + S to take a screenshot for OneNote, if this program is installed and running
- Windows + N to open a new side note in OneNote, if this program is installed and running
- Windows + Shift to open OneNote, if this program is installed and running
- Introduced in Windows Vista
- Windows + G to select next sidebar gadget item
- Windows + Space to show sidebar
- Windows + X to enter Windows Mobility Center (does not work on desktop computers)
- Windows + Tab to switch windows using Flip 3D (requires desktop compositioning)
- Windows + 1 to 9 to start according Quick Launch Toolbar program
- Windows + Alt + Enter to start Windows Media Center
- Introduced in Windows 7
- Windows + P to switch projection modes (clone, extend, single, multiple monitors, etc.)
- Windows + Up Arrow to maximize the active window
- Windows + Down Arrow to restore (default window size, not maximised nor in taskbar) the active window
- Windows + Left or Right Arrow to align the window to the respective side of the screen
- Windows + T to toggle between the tabs in the toolbar(also run with Vista)
A third-party program may be required to be able to use other shortcuts with the Windows Logo Key.